PORT LAUNAY MARINE NATIONAL PARK
A calm, protected bay on the green west coast of Mahé, with the island’s best easy snorkelling and, in season, the chance of swimming near whale sharks. The gentle, watery heart of the quiet west.
The sheltered west
Port Launay sits on the north-west coast of Mahe, in the greenest and least developed corner of the island, and its waters are protected as a marine national park. The bay is wonderfully sheltered, so the sea stays calm and clear for much of the year, and a long crescent of sand shelves gently into water made for swimming. After the wild open beaches of the south, the softness of Port Launay comes as a relief.
Behind the beach lies a rare coastal wetland of mangroves, one of the most important on Mahe, and the whole area has a lush, hushed quality. A large resort occupies part of the shore, but the beach and the marine park belong to everyone.
Snorkelling and whale sharks
The protected bay makes this one of the best and easiest places to snorkel on Mahe. The water is calm, the coral and reef fish are close in, and it suits beginners and families as much as confident swimmers. Neighbouring Baie Ternay, just around the headland, is another jewel of the same marine park and a favourite stop on boat trips.
Port Launay’s rare treat comes in the plankton-rich months of the transition seasons, when whale sharks, the huge and harmless giants of the sea, sometimes pass along this coast. Sightings are never guaranteed, but few things beat the chance of sharing the water with one, and the west coast is the place it can happen.
Know before you go
| Where | North-west coast of Mahe, near Port Glaud |
| Status | Marine national park with a protected mangrove wetland |
| Swimming | Calm and sheltered, one of the gentlest swims on Mahe |
| Snorkelling | Among the best and easiest on the island, close to shore |
| Wildlife | Reef fish, mangroves, and whale sharks in season, if you are lucky |
| Facilities | Limited beyond the resort, come prepared |
| Best time | Calm days for snorkelling, transition seasons for whale sharks |
What visitors say
★ 4.6 · 1,258 Google reviews★★★★★Beautiful! No waves, amazing for kids, cant say water was crystal clear, but nit that murky. Lots of shade. Pleasant music coming from the hotel. But no cafes around to have snacks pr lunch. Was easy to park car, some ac…
Olena Barzegar · via Google
★★★★★Although I visited on Sunday, the beach was so quiet and calm, with an amazing view and turquoise water. There are trees to avoid the sunshine and lay down. The car park was packed with locals’ cars due to the weekend b…
Kotaro · via Google
★★★★★A beautiful beach in a beautiful setting. It is well worth spending a few hours here. A wonderful place for snorkeling. It has its own underwater educational trail, where buoys show you where way to what a wonderful expe…
Zsolt Fehér · via Google
★★★Water is calm and can swim safely however on the day we went it was not as clear as the other beaches; there was a nearby toilet however it closed by sunset. There were sun beds along the beach but I believed its from th…
Janelle Laguatan-Perez · via Google
The calm west is made for snorkelling, and a guided beaches-and-snorkelling day reaches Port Launay and neighbouring Baie Ternay at their best. Stay on Mahe to keep this quiet coast close.
Traveller favouriteBeaches & snorkelling private tourfrom €129 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Sauzier Waterfall · Anse Port Glaud · Morne Blanc
Bring your own mask and snorkel and get in early when the water is glassiest. This is one of the calmest, clearest and most beginner-friendly places to snorkel on Mahe, and in the right season you might just meet a whale shark.
